Machine to manufacture closing folding elements and the doors and shutters manufactured with the same

ABSTRACT

A machine for producing an internal cavity or slot in a workpiece, and articles manufactured therewith. The machine includes two wheels rotatably mounted on a frame, and a motor for rotating one of the wheels. Disposed around the wheels is an endless tape having a segment provided with cutting teeth. The cutting teeth consist of notches along one tape edge and a tooth element transverse to the tape and located at one of the vertices of the notch. The tooth elements have different dimensions and are arranged progressively from smallest to largest.

United States Patent Massetani 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [541 MACHINE TO MANUFACTURE CLOSING FOLDING ELEMENTS AND THE DOORS AND SHUTTERS MANUFACTURED WITH THE SAME [72] Inventor: Manlio Massetani, Bahia Blanca 2657-63,

Buenos Aires, Argentina 221 Filed: Sept. 20, 1969 [21] App1.No.: 861,266

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 7, 1969 Argentina ..218964 June 26, 1969 Argentina ..222452 [52] US. Cl ..144/86, 144/136 [51] Int. Cl. ..B271 1/00 [58] Field of Search 144/86, 72, 73, 136, 85

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 547,572 10/1895 Anthon. ..144/72 803,369 10/1905 Stafford 144/72 1,637,464 8/1927 Bianca 144/73 2,978,020 4/1961 Paulsrude 160/ 183 2,994,371 8/1961 Morseth et a1. .160/231 R 3,033,283 5/1962 Jorgensen ..160/183 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,128,116 4/1962 Germany 1. 144/86 Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorneylrving M. Weiner [57] ABSTRACT A machine for producing an internal cavity or slot in a workpiece, and articles manufactured therewith. The machine includes two wheels rotatably mounted on a frame, and a motor for rotating one of the wheels. Disposed around the wheels is an endless tape having a segment provided with cutting teeth. The cutting teeth consist of notches along one tape edge and a tooth element transverse to the tape and located at one of the "vertices of the notch. The tooth elements have difi'erent dimensions and are arranged progressively from smallest to largest.

1 Clai 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZZ m2 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG. 6

mvka MAN LIO MAS SETAN] MACHINE TO MANUFACTURE CLOSING FOLDING ELEMENTS AND THE DOORS AND SHUTTERS MANUFACTURED WITH THE SAME The present invention relates to a machine for producing an internal cavity or slot in a workpiece, and articles produced by the machine. In particular, the present invention is directed to improvements in machines for the manufacture of closing folding elements, and to the doors and shutters manufactured with such improved machines.

The invention comprises a machine to manufacture wooden splints which are adequately grooved and are suitable for con structing folding doors and rolling shutters, as well as other structures requiring splints having similar types of grooves. A characteristic feature of the grooves made in splints with the inventive machine resides in the fact that their transverse section is larger in the interior than in the external opening. Splints having these types of grooves permit the insertion of flexible linking elements, such as long tapes with their two edges enlarged and forming a pair of parallel cords. Such flexible linking elements, when held or retained in such grooves, link the splints which as a whole form the doors or shutters.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a machine for producing an internal cavity or slot in a workpiece, and articles produced by this machine. The machine includes at least two wheels rotatably mounted on a frame, and means for rotating at least one of the wheels. Disposed around the wheels is an endless tape having at least one segment provided with cutting teeth. The cutting teeth consist of a series of notches disposed along one edge of the endless tape, and a predetermined element disposed transverse to the major surface of the endless tape and located at one of the vertices of each of the notches. The predetermined elements have different dimensions and are arranged progressively from smallest to largest so that the largest predetermined element has a dimension corresponding substantially to a dimension of the internal cavity or slot to be produced.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a machine including an enlarged horizontal bench on which there is an endless tapc mounted around two horizontal wheels. The two horizontal wheels are mounted on separate vertical rotary axes located at the ends of the bench. The tape is provided with many cutting teeth and predetermined elements arranged in equidistant separations along only a portion of the total length of the tape. These cutting teeth are distributed along a segment which is approximately equal to the distance between the rotary axes of the two wheels or pulleys around which the endless tape is mounted. The remaining segment of the endless tape which is more or less of an equivalent length has no teeth. The cutting teeth on the endless tape are arranged in increasing size order, so that the smaller teeth or predetermined elements pass through the workpiece first, and then those with larger dimensions pass through, and finally those with the largest dimensions. The cavity, slot or opening at the bottom of the precut groove in the splint is made progressively, so that its width increases as the endless tape advances therethrough.

Preferably, the projections of the predetermined elements or tooth elements result from their thickness which may increase gradually by a quarter of a millimeter with respect to the previous element. The thickness dimension should preferably be between 1 and 4 millimeters. Before the splint to be produced is placed on the inventive machine, a lineal groove or slot is made in the splint with a saw or other suitable cutting tool. It is therefore preferable that the distances between the axes of the wheels be longer than the length of the splints to be produced, so that each splint can be placed on the segment of the endless tape having no cutting teeth. After this placement is accomplished, the endless tape may then be set into motion.

As a part of the inventive machine, there is provided interchangeable guides which extend along the front of the bench. The purpose of these guides is to fasten and firmly retain the splints in a stationary position during the cutting of the internal cavity, slot or chute in the splint. The guides keep the splints firmly fastened and pressed in stationary position to prevent the wood from expanding or contracting or vibrating during the cutting operation. If this is not done, it is possible for the dimensions of the internal cavity, slot or chute to be smaller than the cutting predetermined element.

The guides should be of the adjustable or open type to allow the placement and removal of the splints. They should also have adjustable elements to press the splints during the cutting operation. Preferably, they should also have a vertical or oblique housing to hold the splint in proper orientation with relation to the direction the grooves or slots will have. In the case of manufacturing wooden splints for folding doors, the grooves should be oriented along the bisector of the dihedral angle of the edges for mutual hinging together of the splints. In the case of manufacturing splints for rolling shutters, the grooves will be oriented along the central portion of the edges,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a plan view of one possible embodiment of the machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken along line 2- 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view and a side view of the segment of the endless metallic tape which is provided with the cutting teeth according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows three operative positions of a link of two splints, produced with the machine according to this invention, for folding doors in which the hinge is made of a flexible tape.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the lower splints of a rolling shutter made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed and enlarged sectional view of the link between two successive splints of a rolling shutter as shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one possible embodiment of the machine in accordance with the present invention includes two wheels I and 2 which are coplanner and around which there is disposed an endless metallic tape 3. Both wheels or pulleys I and 2 rotate around parallel axes l and horizontal plates or 2, respectively. The assembly is supported by a frame made up of stiles 4 and crosspieces 5. Connected to the stiles 4 and crosspieces 5 are arms 6 with threaded sleeves 7. The threaded sleeves 7 is traversed by a screw 8 which can be actuated by a manual control wheel or crank 9.

One of the wheels 1 and 2 may be displaced for adjustment of the endless metallic tape 3 by way of a manual actuating handle 9 which is linked with a screw 10'. Either of the two wheels 1 and 2 may be connected to a motor element which is capable of rotating the associated wheel 1 or 2 around its axis.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic tape has cutting teeth which consist of predetermined elements 11 located at one of the vertices of respective notches 12. The predetermined elements 11 may take the shape or form of vinelike transverse bars or plates, or hard arms.

The cutting teeth are distributed along only one segment of the endless tape 3 so as to leave a toothless segment of at least a length equal to the separation between the rotary axes 1 and 2 of the tape holding wheels 1 and 2. This length may be equal to the distance between the point of tangency of the tape with one of the wheels and the point of tangency of the tape with the other of the wheels. This toothless length facilitates the easy fitting or mating of a splint which has been previously cut or slotted with a suitable tool, such as a circular saw, which produces a lineal, deep slot of uniform thickness throughout its length.

Once the splint 17 has been fitted over the toothless segment of the endless tape 3, as shown in FIG. 2, by placing it on the fixture member 14 and 15, the handle 9 is actuated to press the block 16 against the splint 17 to firmly hold it in stationary position. The machine is then started, causing the wheels 1 and 2 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The predetermined cutting elements 11 will pass through the lineal cuts in the splint progressively with an increase in dimensions, until the last predetermined element will determine the fixed or desired dimension of the cavity or widening at the bottom of the lineal cut or groove.

The orientation and arrangement of the guides 14 and 15 as shown in FIG. 2, permits the production ofsplints 17 with slots widened at their bottoms as shown in FIG. 4. Flexible tapes 13 can be used as hinges with their coupled edges placed within the cavity or widening at the bottom of the cut or groove. These coupled edges remain firmly confined in the interior of the slot or bottom cavity of the cut, thus forming hinges between adjacent splints 17. These hinges 13 are easy to assemble. reassemble, replace and interchange, and also offer very efficient practical results and excellent aesthetic effects.

The dimensions of the cutting teeth and their separations are not limited to the aforesaid. Rather, they vary according to the thickness of the splint to be slotted, to the nature of the wood or other material to be used, and to the purpose of the splint, such as for doors or shutters. It should also be borne in mind that the width and/or thickness of the predetermined elements 11 should progressively increase, and that the cutting teeth occupy only a segment of the endless metallic tape 3. Preferably, this will provide a toothless segment ex tending in a length equivalent to the distance between the axes 1' and 2 of the wheels 1 and 2.

The splints 28 for shutters shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have internal grooves which are also produced with the machine according to the present invention. The basic element of the shutter is the splint 28 having its transverse section shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The two end portions of the splint 28 are somewhat wider than the central portion thereof. The end portions have their edges inclined with respect to the perpendicular to the vertical axis of the splint 28 as shown in FIG. 5.

These inclined edges have two steps 18 and 19 which are equal and opposite with respect to the next adjacent splint, so that when the adjacent splints are in mutual contact a closing effect is achieved. This effect is shown best between the lowermost splints in FIG. 5. This closing effect prevents the admission of light, air, dust and sounds.

At the line of separation between the two steps 18 and 19, there is a narrow cut 20. The machine according to this invention widens the cut 20 to form a cavity 21. The narrow cuts 20 and wider cavities 21 are of the same type and dimensions, and are lined up respectively with the adjacent splints 28.

Adjacent splints 28 are mutually linked, hinged or hooked by way of a flexible sheet 22 having marginal edges 23 which are widened. Where the flexible sheet 23 is made of metal, the marginal edges 23 may be simple loops as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Where the flexible sheet 22 is made of plastic, these marginal edges 23 can be formed as couplings of the same type as used for folding doors, as shown in FIG. 4.

The size of the marginal edges 23 should be such as to fit within the cavity 21 and, at the same time, larger than the width of the narrow cut 20, It should be observed that the cavity 21 has a vertical dimension which is larger than its width. This allows the vertical displacement of the edge 23 to be of a considerable size, so that, when raising the shutters, a significant opening can be attained between adjacent shutter splints 28. On the other hand, when the shutter is lowered, the aforementioned closing effect can be achieved.

The flexible sheets 22 and the dimensioning of the cavities 2] permits angular displacement, as shown in FIG. 6, which are complimented with the flexibility of the sheets 22 so that the shutter may be rolled up with no difficulty around the rolling axis of the shutter. In addition, the flexible sheet 22 is provided with openin s 24 along the entire central portion to allow the admission 0 light and air. The openings 24 are hidden or exposed depending upon the position occupied by the splints 28.

The last splint which is the one not to be rolled generally carries stops. This last splint is the one that must reach only to the lintel. This last splint carries stops so that, once the shutter is open through its total rolling, it can become end run elements. The stops may be adjusted by cylindrical rubber blocks 25 which traverse the splint 28 from one side to the other. The rubber block 25 is traversed by an adjustable bolt 27 which, when it is pressing, widens the rubber against the cylindrical opening of the splint 28 fastening it firmly to the splint. To remove the stops, it is necessary to loosen the nut of the bolt 27. This reduces the widening pressure, and thus reduces the thickness permitting them to be removed with no difficulty. FIG. 5 shows the role of block 25 that traverses the splint 26. Adjustment of the bolt 27 with its associated washers causes a widening of the rubber block 25 which is adjusted with the splint.

Some suitable dimensions for the splints for the rolling shutter are approximately 55 millimeters tall and I5 millimeters wide. The last or lowermost splint may be millimeters tall. The flexible sheets may be 24 millimeters tall including the marginal edges or loops.

Iclaim:

l. A machine for widening a portion of a slot internally of a workpiece to produce a T-slot configuration comprising a supporting frame,

a driven wheel rotatably mounted on said supporting frame to rotate about a vertical axis,

a guide wheel rotatably mounted on said supporting frame to rotate about a vertical axis and spaced laterally from said driven wheel,

an endless metal tape connecting said driven and guide wheels, said metal tape having upper and lower edges,

a horizontal plate on said frame slidably engaged by the lower edge of said tape between said driven and guide wheels,

a fixture on said plate having a guide slot to receive and guide said metal tape and to hold a workpiece with the slot of the workpiece aligned with the guide slot, and

a plurality of cutters on and spaced apart along the upper edge of said metal tape, said cutters being respectively and successively wider in a direction counter to the direction of travel of said metal tape through said guide slot.

lhllnA nan: 

1. A machine for widening a portion of a slot internally of a workpiece to produce a T-slot configuration comprising a supporting frame, a driven wheel rotatably mounted on said supporting frame to rotate about a vertical axis, a guide wheel rotatably mounted on said supporting frame to rotate about a vertical axis and spaced laterally from said driven wheel, an endless metal tape connecting said driven and guide wheels, said metal tape having upper and lower edges, a horizontal plate on said frame slidably engaged by the lower edge of said tape between said driven and guide wheels, a fixture on said plate having a guide slot to receive and guide said metal tape and to hold a workpiece with the slot of the workpiece aligned with the guide slot, and a plurality of cutters on and spaced apart along the upper edge of said metal tape, said cutters being respectively and successively wider in a direction counter to the Direction of travel of said metal tape through said guide slot. 